Recipients of the 2016-17 Inclusive Excellence Spirit Awards at UCI provide innovative approaches to advance diversity, equity and inclusion. An array of eight projects representing five academic units are currently underway across the campus.

The projects range from clinical research to reduce post-surgery pain for vulnerable populations, to a math festival to raise awareness about issues limiting student success, to explorations through song, language, disciplinary forums, and other modes that highlight unique cultural contributions in arts, humanities and other areas.

Sponsored by the UCI ADVANCE program, the Spirit Awards may be funded up to $5,000. All funded proposals aim to address at least one of five aspirational campus goals:

Tiffany Willoughby-Herard: Evicting Our Best: The Political Work of Doing Political Science as a Scholar of Color at UC Irvine

Sheron Wray: Toward a Research Center for Reconnecting the African Diaspora

Call for proposals for the 2017-18 cycle will open September 2017, with proposals due October 31, 2017. For additional information about the awards, please visit the Office of Inclusive Excellence website.